Filed To Story: The Broken-Hearted She and The Icy He Book PDF Free
“Don’t cut me off like this. I don’t want us to go our separate ways. I don’t want us to become strangers. Take me to your grandfather. I’ll talk to him. I’ll beg him to let us be together.”
Lily froze. The words stunned her speechless.
Her grandfather had been dead for years. Where was she supposed to take him?
She had no choice but to double down on the lie. “I can’t take you to see him.”
“I already promised him I’d never fall for a man again. I told him I’d marry a woman and have children as soon as I could. I can’t go back of that. And right now… his health’s in a really fragile place. He wouldn’t be able to handle any kind of shock. If I brought you to see him, he might…”
“James, I’m really, really sorry. I ate your barbecue. I drank your wine. And now I’m still hurting you like this. But we’re just not right for each other. Let’s set each other free.”
Before he could say anything, Lily shot to her feet. She didn’t even bother grabbing her coat before running out of the tent.
The mountain wind blew hard, tousling her wig and drying the tears on her face.
She cared about him. She worried for him. But if she wanted this to truly end, she couldn’t look back..
Not even once.
“Leila!”
She had only run a few steps when she suddenly felt her body tighten-James had rushed up behind her and wrapped her in a tight embrace.
Lily instinctively tried to break free. She didn’t want things to stay messy between them, didn’t want to be caught in lingering ambiguity. She pushed at his arms, trying to create some space.
But his strength was too much for her. She couldn’t shake him off.
The next second, she felt the vulnerable weight of his face pressed into the crook of her neck, his breath warm and uneven.
His voice trembled with a desperate, fragile fear of losing her.
“Leila… can’t we not make a clean break?”
That rare trace of weakness and pleading in his tone made tears well up in Lily’s eyes. They fell before she could stop them.
Afraid the drops might fall onto the back of his hand and betray her, she quickly wiped her face.
The urge to turn around and hug him back surged with terrifying force.
But then what?
No matter h how badly she wanted to, she’d never grow those “few extra ounces” that would make her a man. The longer this dragged on, the deeper they both sank. The more it would hurt-both of them.
In the end, she forced herself to harden her heart and spoke, pausing on each word.
“If my grandfather dies with regret in his heart.. I’ll never forgive myself.”
His arms fell away, strength draining from his body, leaving nothing to hold her back.
He loved her. How could he bear to let her live with regret for the rest of her life!
It really seemed like they were destined to walk down different roads.
“Leila… I won’t force you anymore.
It felt like it took an eternity-like he had to scrape his soul off the ground-before he finally found his voice again. It was hoarse and strained with pain.
“I don’t want your grandfather to leave with regrets. And I don’t want you to live with any either. I’IL TI try my best not to bother you anymore. But it’s getting late. It’s not safe for you to go back alone. Eat something first-after dinner, I’ll drive you home.”
“There’s no need.”
Lily seized the chance to draw a clear line. There was no way she’d stay for dinner with him now.
The mountain resort was indeed far from the city, but plenty of people vacationed here. It wasn’t hard to hail a ride.
Now that she had her body back, she quickly stepped away, putting distance between them.
“My brother said he’s coming to pick me up. He’s already on his way. I’ll just leave with him.”
James didn’t want to let her go like this.
He was terrified that once she walked away, she might disappear from his life forever.
But if he tried to keep her here, it would only make things harder on her.
He didn’t want to lose her. But more than that, he couldn’t stand the thought of her living in guilt and pain.
In the end, he swallowed the sharp ache in his chest and replied hoarsely, “Okay”
Seeing that she wasn’t wearing her coat, he turned and went back to the tent. He retrieved her jacket and gently draped it over her shoulders.
He moved slowly, very slowly.
As if, by stretching out this single moment, he could freeze time and keep her here with him forever.
But time never stops. No matter how slow his hands moved, separation would come all the same.
She pulled the jacket closer around her and took another step back.
“It’s cold up here at night. You should head back and rest too. And James. from now on, let’s both live well. Let’s both be happy.”
His bloodshot eyes hadn’t faded.
His lips moved like he wanted to say something.
But how can I be happy without you by my side?
He didn’t say it.
Words like that would only weigh her down. They wouldn’t help her at all.
The mountain wind tossed his hair, and in the end, all he could do was give her a barely audible “Mm.”
Seeing him like that-wrapped in pain and silence-Lily’s eyes stung again.
She wanted to look him in the eye and say a proper goodbye. But she knew that if she opened her mouth, she’d choke up and give herself away
So instead, she forced the corners of her mouth into a smile-one that looked worse than crying. She raised her hand and gave him a small wave,
Then she turned, suddenly and sharply, and walked away without looking back.
“Leila…”
James instinctively stepped after her.
Like his body was trying to chase her even as his mind screamed at him not to.
But then her words echoed in his head-how she could never forgive herself if her grandfather died with regrets and he stopped in his tracks.
He stood there, frozen, and watched her figure grow smaller and smaller, swallowed up by the dark.
Only after she had vanished completely did he finally turn back around, limbs heavy with loneliness. Step by step, he walked into the tent.
There were hotels and guesthouses near the resort.
Lily didn’t hail a car immediately. Instead, she booked a short-term hotel room and went to wash off her makeup.
She’d brought a large bag with her today, with a change of clothes inside.
After unwinding the layers of gauze wrapped around her chest and changing back into her normal outfit, she felt like she could finally breathe. Her whole body felt lighter.
She would never meet James again as “Leila.” There was no longer any need to keep the makeup tools and props she’d used to disguise herself.
She found a discreet trash can and tossed everything inside.
Only then did she call a car.
The night deepened. Her chest still ached, but there was a strange lightness to her heart.
Never speaking to James again would leave an ache in her chest. She knew that. But at least there would be no lingering ties between them.
Once the divorce was finalized, they’d truly go their separate ways-with no more entanglements, no more unfinished threads.
That, in truth, was a good thing.
By then, the Hamlet production would be nearing its close. She planned to find a quiet place surrounded by mountains and water, rent a small cottage, and spend some time alone-simple, peaceful, undisturbed. She had just settled into the backseat of the rideshare when her phone rang.
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